One lucky winner will win a generous sampler back from Beanilla which includes the following:

5 Madagascar Vanilla Beans – Madagascar Vanilla Beans are superior, with flavor and aromatic qualities that make these beans the most popular and sought after vanilla variety. The flavor is a rich, dark and creamy with an overwhelming sweet, buttery aroma. These are well suited for many baking recipes, drinks and desserts. Many consider Madagascar Vanilla Beans to be the best in the world.

5 Bourbon Vanilla Beans – Bourbon vanilla from Papua New Guinea (PNG) comes from the fruit of an orchid variety called Vanilla Planifolia and is rich in the natural organic compound called vanillin. Bourbon beans have a creamy, sweet, smooth and mellow flavor. Bourbon vanilla has a traditional flavor and is a popular type of vanilla. Use Bourbon vanilla for applications that require a traditional vanilla flavor.

5 Tahitian (Papua New Guinea) Vanilla Beans – Tahitian vanilla beans from Papua New Guinea (PNG) are generally shorter, plumper, and contain a much higher oil and water content than Bourbon beans. The aroma is flowery, fruity and anisic with a smooth flavor. They are often described as smelling like licorice, cherries, or wine. Gourmet pastry chefs love to work with the Tahitian (Tahitensis) variety, which are perfect for many applications.

Also included in the giveaway is this 8.5-ounce Clear Glass Bottle with Swingtop – The perfect solution for all of your vanilla infusions. Add 5 vanilla beans, 1 cup (8 ounces) vodka (or bourbon, rum, or brandy), seal, shake, and wait a few months – that’s it.

I used the swingtop bottle when making vanilla extract. It’s the perfect fit for 5 beans and 1 cup alcohol.

I love vanilla extract and tend to use at least double what most recipes call for.

My food tastes wonderful but all that heavy-handed vanilla pouring isn’t great for my wallet.

Once you start making your own, you’ll never want storebought again. It saves money, it’s more flavorful, and you can keep the vanilla extract-brewing cycle going by simply topping off the jar with additional vodka, or infusion liquid of choice, as you use your homemade vanilla and from time to time swap out the old beans for new to keep the extract flavorful.

Homemade vanilla extract also makes for a thoughtful gift that everyone uses, that costs you very little in terms of money on an ounce-for-ounce, gift-for-gift basis, and is virtually effortless on your part. Sounds like my kind of gift.

Baked Vanilla Donuts with Vanilla Glaze – Vanilla is used twice, both in the donuts and in the glaze, and if you’ve never made donuts before they’re extremely easy and fast. The batter can be baked as muffins rather than donuts if you don’t have a donut pan

Caramel and Chocolate Gooey Bars (GF with Vegan adaptation) – I use vanilla twice when making these gooey, rich, easy bars. Full of caramel, chocolate, chewy oats, and vanilla. Keep the napkins handy

Homemade Peanut Butter (vegan, GF) – I add a heavy-handed stream of vanilla extract to my homemade peanut butter, which takes just 5 minutes to make. Homemade peanut butter, like vanilla, is another thing that once you start making it on your own, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing this your whole life because it’s so easy and ridiculously good

Actually, the first thing I make with these vanilla beans would probably be vanilla extract. You’re the second food blogger in the past month or so that I’ve seen talking about making extract at home…and in the food universe, that sounds like a pretty big hint to me that I should be trying it…especially because of how much I always enjoy pouring extract into my measuring spoon for whatever I’m baking – be it cookies, a cake or some of your delicious doughnuts. (Seriously – I’ve not tried a bad recipe yet.) =)